Golf tee

ABSTRACT

A golf tee includes a ball seat portion on which a golf ball is placed; and a rod-shaped support shaft portion formed downward from the ball seat portion. The support shaft portion has a projection that is laterally formed on and projected from the support shaft portion. The ball seat portion and the support shaft portion are formed plane-symmetrically on a single plane including a central axis line of the support shaft portion and a point of the projection. In the single plane, a virtual plane including contact portion that contacts with a golf ball when the golf ball is placed on the ball seat portion and a central axis line of the support shaft portion form an obtuse angle on one side of the axis line and form an acute angle on the other side of the axis line.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a golf tee that makes a player easilyimagine a direction of hitting a golf ball, and reduces resistance ofhitting the golf ball.

BACKGROUND ART

A golf tee holds a golf ball at a predetermined height position abovethe ground when a golf player hits a tee-shot. Conventionally, golf teesof various shapes, structures and materials have been proposed, sold andused.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram illustrating one example of a golf teein the related art. This golf tee 10 includes a ball seat portion 14 onwhich a golf ball 12 is placed, and a rod-shaped support shaft portion16 vertically formed downward from the bottom of the ball seat portion14. Angle α formed by a virtual plane (shown with broken line A) and thesupport shaft portion 16 is a substantially right angle (substantially90 degrees) as illustrated in FIG. 7. The virtual plane includes acontact portion on the ball seat portion 14. The contact portioncontacts with the golf ball 12 when the golf ball 12 is placed on theball seat portion 14.

In a case where the golf ball 12 is hit using such a conventionalgeneral golf tee 10, as illustrated in FIG. 8( a), first, a golf playervertically sticks the support shaft portion 16 of the golf tee 10 intothe ground up to a suitable depth. In this state, furthermore, the golfplayer places the golf ball 12 on the ball seat portion 14.

Next, the golf player decides a target point to which the golf playerwants to hit the golf ball 12. In a golfer's basic stance for normalshot (square stance), a direction of a line between the feet of a golfplayer, more specifically as direction of a line between the toes of thegolf player, is parallel to a direction of a line between the targetpoint and the golf ball 12 on the ball seat portion 14, or a targetdirection of the hit ball (hereinafter, referred to as a targetdirection).

Based on his or her preference or requirements such as a kind of anintended ball trajectory. The golf player takes as stance, the golfplayer takes a stance where the left leg moves back (open stance for aright-handed hitter) or a stance where the right leg moves back (closedstance for a left-handed bitter). In this way, the golf player can beoriented, in the target direction.

If a golf ball 12 can be ideally hit by a golf player with such a stanceand a correct swing form, the golf bail 12 can accurately fly in thetarget direction.

However, a golf player hardly takes a stance by accurately orienting toa remote target point by eye. In many cases, the orientation of a golfplayer in stance deviates from the target direction. Therefore, even ifthe golf player can ideally hit the golf ball 12 with a correct swing,the actual direction of the hit ball may be different from the targetdirection.

The orientation deviation is smaller when the orientation of the golfplayer is oriented to a target point closer to the golf player.Therefore, the golf player finds something oriented in the same targetdirection from among a closer tree or grass, and defines it as atemporary target. Further, the golf player takes a stance b orientingthe golf player to the temporary target, and thereby reduces theorientation deviation.

However, there is not always something to be suitable as a temporarytarget in the same direction as the target direction in all holes. Thereare many cases where it is not possible to determine a temporary target.In that case, the golf player cannot help but necessarily orient thegolf player to a remote target point. Therefore, there is a problem thatthe imp between the target direction and the direction of an actuallyhit ball is likely to become large as described above.

Therefore, the following golf tee has been proposed. This golf teeincludes a ball seat portion on which a golf ball is placed, and arod-shaped support shaft portion formed downward from the ball seatportion. In this tee, in a single plane, a virtual plane and the centralaxis hue of the support shaft portion form an obtuse angle on one sideof the axis line and form an acute angle on the other side of the axisline. The virtual plane includes a contact portion on the ball seatportion 14. The contact portion contacts with a golf ball when the golfball is placed on the ball seat portion.

In this golf tee, as illustrated in FIG. 8( b), the support shaftportion 16 of the golf tee 10 is diagonally stuck into the ground towardthe direction in which the golf ball 12 is hit. In such a condition, thegolf ball 12 is placed on the ball seat portion 14 of the golf tee 10.

The golf player takes a stance in front of the golf tee 10 in thisstate. The support shaft portion 16 faces to the target when seen fromthe golf player. Therefore, the support shaft portion 16 serves as asuitable indication for orienting the golf player to orient to thetarget. The support shaft portion 16 allows the golf player to take astance while orienting the golf player to the target more accurately.

CITATION LIST Patent Literature

-   Patent Literature 1: JP-U-3060039-   Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2000-116832

SUMMARY OF INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention

However, in a case where the golf tee is stuck into the ground whiletilting the support shaft portion toward the target direction, the golfball placed on the ball seat portion blocks the tilted direction of thesupport shaft portion from the player's view. Therefore, it is difficultto tilt the support shaft portion to the target.

Further, in such a case, the golf player has no choice but to remove thegolf ball from the ball seat portion once. Then, the golf playerconfirms that the tilt of the support shaft portion faces to the target,and returns the golf ball onto the ball seat portion again.Alternatively, the golf player has no choice but to touch the supportshaft portion of the golf tee to tilt the support shaft to the target.

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide thefollowing golf tee. Even in the case of sticking diagonally this golftee with a golf ball is placed on the ball seat portion into the ground,the player can make the side (from side), on which an angle formed bythe virtual plane and the support shaft portion on the obtuse angle sideis the greatest, face to the target accurately, and the player can holdthe virtual plane of the ball seat portion substantially horizontally.

Solutions to the Problems

The most significant feature of the present invention is to include aball seat portion on which a golf ball is placed and a rod-shapedsupport shaft portion formed downward from the bottom part of the ballseat portion. The support shaft portion has a lateral projection. Thesupport shaft portion is diagonally formed on a virtual plane thatincludes a contact portion of the ball seat portion. The contact portionis configured to contact with a golf ball when the golf ball is placedthereon. The projection is formed on and projected from a side on whichan obtuse angle is formed by the virtual plane and the support shaftportion.

More specifically, the ball seat portion and the support shaft portionare formed plane-symmetrically on a single plane including: a centralaxis line of the support shaft portion and a point of the projection.The virtual plane includes a contact portion on the ball seat portion14. The contact portion contacts with a golf ball when the golf ball isplaced on the ball seat portion. In the single plane, this virtual planeand the central axis line of the support shaft portion form an obtuseangle on one side of the axis line and form an acute angle on the otherside of the axis line. The projection is formed on and projected fromthe side on which the obtuse angle is formed.

As the shape of the ball seat portion, any shape is possible as long asit is possible to place a golf ball on the ball seat portion withoutrolling down the ball seat portion. For example, the shape of the ballseat portion may be a dish shape with a rounded outer edge part or ashape with an irregularly-curved outer edge part. Further, the supportshaft portion may be rod-shaped or square-bar-shaped. From thestandpoint of ease of sticking into the ground, it is preferable thatthe support shaft portion have a sharp point.

The obtuse angle formed on one side of the axis line of the supportshaft portion can be arbitrarily changed in a range between 100 degreesand 120 degrees. Moreover, the acute angle formed on the other side ofthe axis line can be arbitrarily changed in a range between 60 degreesand 80 degrees. When ease of imaging the direction at: the time ofhitting the golf ball, ease of fall of the tee which is stuck into theground and on which the golf ball is placed, and lack of resistance atthe time of hitting the golf ball are determined in a comprehensivemanner, it is preferable that the obtuse angle be in a range between 105degrees and 108 degrees. Further, it is preferable that the acute anglebe in a range between 72 degrees and 75 degrees.

It is possible to form the projection in a position closer to the ballseat portion than a middle height position of the support shaft portion.In that case, it is preferable that the position of the projection be aposition in which it is possible to hold the forefinger under theprojection and softly grip the golf ball placed on the ball seatportion. The shape of the projection is not especially limited. It ispreferable that the shape of the projection be a fin shape with a sharppoint, in the sense of a sign indicating the direction to hit the golfball.

The most common materials of golf tees include a wood and plastic (forexample, polycarbonate). In the case where a way of placing a golf teeon the ground is to stick the golf tee into the ground, the material ofthe golf tee is not specifically limited and any material is acceptableas long as it has strength enough to withstand a stress produced bysticking the golf tee into the around and to support the ball placed onthe tee.

The ball seat portion and support shaft portion forming the golf tee arenormally formed with the identical material. Alternatively, the golf teemay be formed by combining parts formed with respective materials.

Moreover, the golf tee of the present invention complies with the ruleof golf. The golf tee of the present invention can be naturally used notonly in practice of golf in a driving range or the like but also in agolf game in as golf course.

Effects of the Invention

In the golf tee of the present invention, a projection is torn on andprojected from the side on which a support shaft portion forms an obtuseangle with respect to a virtual plane of a ball seat portion. Therefore,only by a sense of touching the projection by hand, it is possible torecognize the obtuse angle side of the support shaft portion, that is,the front side of the golf tee. Therefore, there is an advantage that itis possible to stick the golf tee into the ground without looking at thegolf tee in a state where the front side of the golf tee is tilted by anappropriate angle with respect to the target direction to hit a golfball.

Further, there is a case player sticks the golf tee into the ground andplays in a state in which the golf tee is tilted in the target directionto hit the golf ball. In this case, with the golf tee of the presentinvention, the player can visually check the support shaft portion ofthe golf tee at any time. Therefore, there is an advantage that it iseasy to create an image of the target direction to hit a golf ball whenthe player hits a teed golf ball by a driver.

Moreover, there is a case where the player sticks the golf tee into theground and plays in a state in which the golf tee is tilted in thetarget direction to hit the golf ball. In this case, with the golf teeof the present invention, the player can visually check the supportshaft portion of the golf tee at any time. Therefore, even if there isno suitable temporary target, the golf player can take a stance whileaccurately orienting the golf player to the target direction. As aresult, there is an advantage that it is possible to reduce a gapbetween the target direction and the direction of an actually hit ball.

Moreover, there is a case where the player sticks the golf tee into tothe ground in a state in which the golf tee is tilted by an appropriateangle with respect to the target direction to hit the golf ball, andplaces the golf ball on the ball seat portion in this state. In thiscase, in the golf tee of the present invention, the center of gravity ofthe golf ball which is applied to the support shaft portion of the golftee is shifted from the support shaft portion. Therefore, it is possibleto disperse the weight of the golf ball. As a result, there is anadvantage it is possible to reduce the golf tee resistance given to adriver when the golf ball is hit by the driver (see FIG. 6).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a golf tee according to an example ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 is an expanded perspective view of a bead part of a golf teeaccording to an example, of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a golf tee according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 4 is a front view of a golf tee according to an example of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram that conceptually illustrates as golftee and golf ball according to an example of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram to describe resistance which a golf teegives to a driver.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram thin illustrates one example of aconventional golf tee.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram that illustrates a tee and golf ball ina state seen from a golf player.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

It is possible to realize an object to make it easy to create an imageof the target direction to hit a golf ball when hitting a teed golf,with a simple configuration without breaking the rule of golf.

EXAMPLE 1

In the following, a golf tee according to an example of the presentinvention is described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is aperspective view of a golf tee according to the example of the presentinvention. FIG. 2 is an expanded perspective view of the head part ofthe golf tee according to the example or the present invention. FIG. 3is a side view of the golf tee according to the example of the presentinvention. FIG. 4 is a front view of the golf tee according to theexample of the present invention. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram toconceptually describe a golf tee and golf ball according to the exampleof the present invention.

As illustrated in these figures, the golf tee 10 includes the ball seatportion 14 on which the golf ball 12 is placed, and the rod-shapedsupport shaft portion 16 formed downward from the bottom of the ballseat portion 14. The support shaft portion 16 includes a projection 16 athat is projected and formed toward the side direction. The ball sealportion 14 and the support shaft portion 16 are formedplane-symmetrically on a single plane (not illustrated) including thecentral axis lint of the support shaft portion 16 and the point of theprojection 16 a.

A virtual plane (broken line P) includes a contact portion on the ballseat portion 14. The contact portion contacts with the golf ball 12 whenthe golf ball 12 is placed on the ball seat portion 14. In the singleplane, this virtual plane (broken line P) and the central axis line ofthe support shaft portion 16 form angle α (obtuse angle) on one side of11 e central axis hue, that is, on one side of the support shaft portion16, and form angle β (acute angle) on the other side of the central axisline, that is, on the other side of the support shaft portion 16. Theprojection 16 a is formed on and projected from the side on which angleα (obtuse angle) is formed.

As the shape of the ball seat portion 14, any shape is possible as longas it is possible to place the golf ball 12 so as not to roll down. Ingeneral, it is preferable that the shape of the ball seat portion 14 bea circular dish shape in which the center part becomes hollow and thesurroundings heighten. However, if it is possible to place the golf ball12 so its not to roll down, for example, even a shape with anirregularly-curved outer edge part is possible as the shape of the ballseat portion 14.

As the shape of the support shaft portion 16, any shape is possible aslong as it is possible to stick it into the ground. In the point of easeof sticking into the ground, a rod shape with a sharp point ispreferable. The support shah portion 16 may be column-shaped orprism-shaped. In the present example, the ball seat portion 14 and thesupport shaft portion 16 are integrally formed by polycarbonate.

A preferable range of angle α formed by the central axis of the supportshaft portion 16 and the virtual plane varies depending on the person.As angle α becomes larger, resistance to a driver becomes less and itbecomes more difficult to stick the support shaft portion 16 into theground. As angle α becomes closer to 90 degrees, the resistance to thedriver becomes greater and it becomes easier to stick the support shaftportion 16 into the ground. Angle α formed on one side of the axis lineof the support shaft portion 16 can be arbitrarily changed within arange of 100 to 120 degrees. Moreover, angle β formed on the other sideof the axis line can be arbitrarily changed within a range of 60 to 80degrees.

When ease of imaging the direction at the time of hitting the golf ball12, ease of fall of the golf tee 10 which is stuck into the ground andon which the golf ball 12 is placed, and lack of the resistance at thetime of hitting the golf ball 12 are determined in a comprehensivemanner, it is preferable that angle α formed on one side of the axisline of the support shaft portion 16 be in a range of 105 to 108degrees. Further, it is preferable that angle β formed on the other sideof the axis line be in a range of 72 to 75 degrees.

The projection 16 a can be formed in a position closer to the ball seatportion 14 than the middle height position of the support, shaft portion16. In that case, it is preferable that the position of the projection16 a be a position in which it is possible to hold the forefinger underthe projection 16 a and softly grip the golf ball 12 place on the ballseat portion 14. Moreover, in the point of ease of grip and ease ofholding the forefinger, it is preferable that a curved concave portion16 b be formed from the lower part of the projection 16 a to the supportshaft portion 16. The shape of the projection 16 a is not specificallylimited. In the sense of a sign indicating the direction to hit the golfball 12, it is preferable that the shape of the projection 16 a be a finshape with a sharp point.

As for a material of the golf tee 10, a wood or plastic (for example,polycarbonate) is given as the most representative example. In a casewhere the installment format of the golf tee 10 into the ground is aformat of sticking the golf tee 10 into the ground, a material of thegolf tee 10 is not specifically limited and any material is acceptableas long as it has strength enough to withstand a stress produced bysticking, the golf tee 10 into the ground and to support the golf ball12 placed on the tee 10. Moreover, the ball seat portion 14 and thesupport shaft portion 16 forming the golf tee 10 are normally formedwith the identical material. Alternatively, the golf tee 10 may beformed by combining parts formed with respective materials.

Next, the usage of the golf tee according to the example of the presentinvention is described.

First, the forefinger is held under the projection 16 a of the golf tee10 according to the example of the present invention, the golf ball 12is placed on the ball seat portion 14 and the golf ball 12 is grippedtogether with the golf tee 10. The projection 16 a is directed to thetarget point to which the golf ball 12 is desired to be hit whilerecognizing the touch of the projection 16 a by the forefinger. Thesupport shaft portion 16 is stuck while being tilted by 10 to 30 degreesfrom the perpendicular line with respect to the ground. At this time,the ball seat portion 14 is maintained such that the virtual plane(broken line A) becomes horizontal as much as possible.

In this state, the golf player takes a stance in front of the golf tee10 according to the present invention. As illustrated in FIG. 8( b), thesupport shaft portion 16 is directed to the target direction when seenfrom the golf player. Therefore, the support shaft portion 16 becomes asuitable indication to orient the golf player. The support shaft portion16 allows the golf player to take a stance while orienting the golfplayer to the target more accurately. Moreover, based on this, the golfplayer can take the open stance or closed stance.

Moreover, when the golf player hits the golf ball 12 by a golf club, theclub head of the golf club impacts the golf ball 12. The direction ofthe support shaft portion 16 is the same as the direction of thetrajectory of the club head before or after the dub head impacts thegolf ball 12. Therefore, the direction of the support shaft portion 16becomes a standard of the trajectory of the club head. Therefore, thesupport shaft portion 16 assists the golf player to hit the golf ball 12with a correct club head trajectory.

Moreover, resistance which the golf tee 10 gives to a driver isdescribed. The resistance which the golf tee 10 gives to the driverrelates to the weight of the golf tee 10 and angle β formed by the axisof the golf tee 10 and the ground. Further, as illustrated an FIG. 6(a), angle β formed by the support shaft portion 16 of the golf tee 10and the ground is 90 degrees in the conventional tee 10. The center ofgravity of the golf ball 12 is placed immediately on the support shaftportion 16 and the support shaft portion 16 supports the weight of thegolf ball 12 as it is. By contrast with this, as illustrated in FIG. 6(b), the support shaft portion 16 of the golf tee 10 forms angle β (β<90degrees) with respect to the ground in the golf tee 10 according to thepresent invention. B this means, the golf tee 10 according to thepresent invention shifts the center of gravity of the golf ball 12 fromthe support shaft portion 16 and supports it, as compared with theconventional golf tee 10 in which the support shaft portion 16 formsangle β. Therefore, it is considered that resistance B to the driver inthe golf tee 10 according to the present invention becomes less thanresistance A to the driver in the conventional golf tee 10.

Here, the golf tee 10 of the present invention does not break the ruleof golf. The golf tee 10 of the present invention can be naturally usednot only in practice of golf in a hitting range or the like but also ina golf game in a golf course. Moreover, the golf tee 10 according to thepresent invention can be naturally used by both right-handed golfplayers and the left-handed golf players.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS

-   10 golf tee-   12 golf ball-   14 ball seat portion-   16 support shaft portion-   16 a projection

1. A golf tee comprising: a ball seat portion on which a golf ball isplaced; and a rod-shaped support shaft portion formed downward from theball seat portion, wherein the support shaft portion has a projectionthat is laterally formed on and projected from the support shaft portionat a part spaced apart from the ball seat portion; the ball seat portionand the support shaft portion are formed plane-symmetrically on a singleplane including a central axis line of the support shaft portion and apoint of the projection; in the single plane, a virtual plane includinga contact portion that contacts with a golf ball when the golf ball isplaced on the ball seat portion and a central axis line of the supportshaft portion form an obtuse angle on one side of the axis line and forman acute angle on the other side of the axis line; and the projection isformed on and projected from a side on which the obtuse angle is formed.2. The golf tee according to claim 1, wherein the obtuse angle isbetween 100 degrees and 120 degrees, and the acute angle is between 60degrees and 80 degrees.
 3. The golf tee according to claim 2, whereinthe obtuse angle is between 105 degrees and 108 degrees, and the acuteangle is between 72 degrees and 75 degrees.
 4. The golf tee according toclaim 1, wherein the projection is formed in a position closer to theball seat portion than a middle height position of the support shaftportion.
 5. The golf tee according to claim 2, wherein the projection isformed in a position closer to the ball seat portion than a middleheight position of the support shaft portion.
 6. The golf tee accordingto claim 3, wherein the projection is formed in a position closer to theball seat portion than a middle height position of the support shaftportion.
 7. The golf tee according to claim 1, wherein the projection isfin-shaped.
 8. The golf tee according to claim 2, wherein the projectionis fin-shaped.
 9. The golf tee according to claim 3, wherein theprojection is fin-shaped.
 10. The golf tee according to claim 4, whereinthe projection is fin-shaped.
 11. The golf tee according to claim 5,wherein the projection is fin-shaped.
 12. The golf tee according toclaim 6, wherein the projection is fin-shaped.
 13. The golf teeaccording to claim 7, wherein a curved concave portion is formed from alower part of the projection to the support shaft portion.
 14. The golftee according to claim 8, wherein a curved concave portion is formedfrom a lower part of the projection to the support shaft portion. 15.The golf tee according to claim 9, wherein a curved concave portion isformed from a lower part of the projection to the support shaft portion.16. The golf tee according to claim 10, wherein a curved concave portionis formed from a lower part of the projection to the support shaftportion.
 17. The golf tee according to claim 11, wherein a curvedconcave portion is formed from a lower part of the projection to thesupport shaft portion.
 18. The golf tee according to claim 12, wherein acurved concave portion is formed from a lower part of the projection tothe support shaft portion.